(Small?) Pearl Bordered Fritillary

[burntfacedjake]

I took these last weekend in a forest park in North Yorkshire while mountain biking. They were taken near a forest track, on a grassy bank with plenty of birds foot trefoil which the butterflies appeared to be enjoying. I counted at least 10 individuals in one small area but didn't see any others despite passing plenty of similar habitat. Maybe I was going too quickly I think it's Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary, which I have read are found in the area. Looking at some images on the web the Small Pearl appears to have more white patches under the wing than the Pearl. There are also records of Pearl Bordered Fritillary but I understand that this is very rare in the region. Can anyone give a positive ID either way, or perhaps its another kind of Fritillary altogether?

[Jason Claxton]

Hi BurntfacedJake

They are Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries.

Cheers Jason

[The Woodman]

It looks like one to me, a nice find and images.

Good for butterflies at the moment, last two days have seen three new species in our garden, Large Tortoiseshell, Large Skipper and High Brown Frit.

[burntfacedjake]

Cheers guys - always good to get a positive ID for a species. Also, it means I get a completely new species for the list.

[Jason Claxton]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

It looks like one to me, a nice find and images.

Good for butterflies at the moment, last two days have seen three new species in our garden, Large Tortoiseshell, Large Skipper and High Brown Frit.

Large Tortoiseshell in your garden!,that is something Woodman.High Brown I don't have near me either
Cheers Jason

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

It looks like one to me, a nice find and images.

Good for butterflies at the moment, last two days have seen three new species in our garden, Large Tortoiseshell, Large Skipper and High Brown Frit.

Are you sure about the Large Tortoiseshell? It's thought to be extinct as a resident species, though odd individuals do turn up either as migrants or accidental/deliberate releases by breeders.

[Susie]

There is possibly a single colony of large tortoiseshell in the UK that I am aware of but it isn't definite and that is down south. Far more likely to be a small tort.

[Fauna]

Originally Posted by Susie

There is possibly a single colony of large tortoiseshell in the UK that I am aware of but it isn't definite and that is down south. Far more likely to be a small tort.

There was definately unusually high numbers spotted in 2007. There was one photgraphed in wentwood by a local ecologist, making this the 5th confirmed record for V35 and the first since 1979. Its been suggested that the early records where from immigrants surviving the mild 2006 winter?

I was very lucky in spotting one in 2002 on transect near me. Its jizz seemed different to that of Small tortoiseshell (which can get quite large themselves) which drew my attention to it. It came down from high up to land on some willow given me a great view. As it was more or less head height i could see clearly all the diagnostic features. As i didn't catch or photo the specimen no one believed the find. I was told that i would know it when i saw one...der!!!

[Susie]

Well I would give you the benefit of the doubt even if I would understand the powers that be not wanting to make an official record of it. Having seen queen of spain frits that were born and bred here I know all sorts can turn up and do (either under their own steam or released by breeders).

[The Woodman]

Without thrying to highjack this thread, the LT I saw two days ago is still here today - same individual I cannot tell.

As with Fauna's encounter, it was the flight that caught my attention, we get our regular species in the garden including ST's which I'm familiar with.

I disturbed the individual and it flew over the wall, landed on a small limestone rock in the field, I legged it to get my camera from the van and photo'd it. Am sending the images to Tullie House with the record.